Outdoors Weekly Fish Tales Archive

April 27, 2007

ANNANDALE - B.J.’s Bait & Tackle, Bill, west side of Clearwater Lake, between the two public accesses (320-274-3730) The sunfish and crappie bite is picking up as the fish move to the shallow bays. Look to Turtle Bay, Green Shed Bay and Horse Shoe Bay. The crappie tourney is full.

ANOKA – Action’s Fishing, Jack, 809 West Hwy 10 (763-422-4890) There is good fishing all over the area lakes. Pelican, George and Elk are all good bets for crappies as they are in the shallows now. Cats are biting on the Mississippi River using live and dead suckers and power bait. The sunnies are starting to bite good on Crooked Lake, and they are nice sized too.

BATTLE LAKE – Ben’s Bait & Tackle, Josie, Junction of Hwy 78 and 210 (218-864-5596) There were a few guys out last weekend, the crappie bite is still really slow as the water temps have not warmed up enough yet. the water will warm up faster on a few of the smaller area lakes, try Molly, Bass Elbow and the bays on Clitheral Lake. The ice was out on Battle Lake last Saturday.

BEMIDJI – Bluewater Bait & Sports, Mark Cook, 1 mile north of the Hwy 2 & 71 Intersection (218-444-2248) The lakes are just starting to open up, a few have been out on the shores of the little lakes as they open. The suckers are starting to run. May 5th is our crappie tournament. Check out bluewater-bait.com for more info.

BLACKDUCK - Timberline Sport & Tackle, Carl Adams, Junction of Hwy 71 and Blackduck Lake Rd (218-835-4636) The little lakes are opening up, most are in between right now, they should be all open by the weekend.

BRAINERD – www.sandwbait.com & www.walleyedan.com - S&W Bait and Tackle - Home of Walleye Dan's Guide Service, 7 1/2 miles North of Brainerd on the East side of Hwy 371 (218-829-7010) All is well here in the North Country now that we have open water pretty much everywhere. Our rainstorms the last couple of days took care of the remaining ice cubes that were floating around. Anglers have been out in full force chasing crappies and sunnies. So far it has gone quite well. There are lots of sunnies up in the shallows and the crappies are just starting to show up a little. The boats that have fished a little deeper are finding some crappies that are willing to bite. The water is a little cold yet ranging from 43-50 degrees. It looks like promising weather all week so the fish should start biting like crazy. Some of the hot spots to try are the docks at Bar Harbor, Margaret, Breezy Point, North Long, Mission, and Lake Hubert. The hot baits are pretty simple. All you need is a fishing rod rigged up with a small bobber, small jig, and a small minnow or worm. Stay small early in the season, it'll produce big results. Be sure to stop in for the latest.

CHISAGO CITY – Frankie’s Live Bait and Marine, Brad, Corner of Hwy 8 and Co Rd 77 (651-257-6334) Open water fishing has started with a bang as the ice went off the lakes at the end of last week, with a lot of the early crappie and bluegill spots already producing nice fish and good numbers, too. Milford, Bay, Little Black Hoof, Turner Creek and many other spots have been good thus far, and will continue to get better with this week’s warm weather. Don’t overlook the backwaters on the Mississippi either, they are starting to pump out a few fish and will also get better as time goes. Many nice bluegills have been caught so far, and quite a few nice crappies. Also worth noting are the jumbo perch mixed in on the Mississippi backwaters, caught right with the crappies. Stop in 7 days a week for the up-to-the-minute fishing report!!!

CROSBY - Oars-N-Mine Bait and Tackle, Jesse Williams, 22640 Hwy 6 N (218-546-6912) Call us for an update!

CROSSLAKE - Holiday of Cross Lake, Lee (218-692-2708) The ice is out on Cross Lake, lots of crappies are starting to move into the bays. Pine, Rush and the bays on the west side of Cross Lake are good for crappies. Target these areas first as the water warms up. This weekend the crappies should really be in the shallows.

DULUTH - Fisherman’s Corner, Scott, 7 miles north of Miller Mall on Hwy 53 (218-729-5369) The smelt are starting to trickle in. Some loopers and steel head are being caught in front of the Gooseberry, Split Rock, Knife and French rivers. A few have been going out from the Lester River too. They have been fishing in the Knife River. The ice should be out by the weekend. The brook trout fishing has been pretty slow.

DULUTH - Marine General, 1501 London Road, on the edge of Lake Superior (218-724-8833) The fishing has been good out on Superior. Good shore casting and good trolling right now. Lots of coho and lakers being caught right now. People have been launching out of Two Harbors as Duluth still has ice in it. You have to be careful if you try and go out of Duluth harbor, because you might be able to make it out, but the wind could blow the ice back in and you wouldn’t be able to get back in. The water temp is still cold. Stick baits, bombers and rapalas have been the best. Smelting is beginning; I look for the smelt to get going by this weekend.

ELY - Babe's Bait and Tackle, 451 W. Sheridan St., Ely, MN, first business on the left as you are entering town of Ely from the west on Hwy 169 (218-365-6930) Give us a call at 218-365-6930!

FOREST LAKE - Mikes Bait on 8, 1/2 mile east of 35 on Hwy 8, Rich, (651-464-5150) The panfish are going good up into 4 feet of water. Tube jigs, mini-mite cubbies, pink and white and any of the greens have been working well. Forest Lake in the channels have been good, and North and South Center Lakes have been too. The temp in the bays has been about 60 degrees and should be better by this weekend.The river opener on the St. Croix this weekend the 28th should be good for walleyes and sauger.

GREY EAGLE - Nancy’s Bait & Tackle, Rex, on CR 2, four miles east of the Rock Tavern on Big Birch Lake, four miles west of Upsala (320-285-2405) The ice went out last weekend with the big wind we had. A few anglers have been out and reports are that a few crappies were caught on St. Anna Lake. The suckers are going good in the Swan River on crawlers. This upcoming weekend, look to the shallows on Big Birch Lake and Hunter’s Bay. The lakes are pretty low; we need some rain up here. We have leeches on hand already.

HACKENSACK - Swanson’s Bait & Tackle, Jim Tuller, Hwy 371 on the north end of Hackensack (218-675-6176) The ice is off the smaller lakes, it should be all out by this weekend. Hit the shallow bays on the north side of the area lakes.

KABETOGAMA-NAMAKAN – Gateway Store, US Hwy 53 & CO Rd 122, 30 miles south of Int’l Falls-Canadian border, Phil Hart (218-875-2121) The Ash River/Sullivan Bay area may provide some early crappie fishing depending on ice out. The river and Sullivan Bay generally experiences ice out 5-7 days ahead of the big lakes. Water levels are improving, but expect lower water levels than normal for opener. Lower water level years do tend to aid walleye spawning, but we still need some rain.

LAKE OF THE WOODS – Area Tourism Bureau, Denelle, near junction of Hwy 11 and Hwy 172 in Baudette (1-800-382-FISH) Spring is transition time here at Lake of the Woods. The ice houses have been put away and the launches pulled out of storage in preparation of the summer season. Resort owners and staff are busy getting ready for the summer season, walleye opener is May 12th. But you don't need to wait that long to get in on some great fishing action. Zippel Bay Resort will host the 11th Annual Ice out Pike Tournament on April 28th & 29th. Head over to Sportsman's Lodge on May 4th & 5th for their 1st Annual North Star Sturgeon Classic. Lake of the Woods has a full calendar of tournaments for the 2007 summer season, so there is sure to be something for everyone.

LEECH LAKE – Anderson’s Resorts, Tim (1-800-516-0077) Call or visit our web site for a report.

METRO AREA EAST – Blue Ribbon Bait & Tackle, Josh, Oakdale (651-777-2421) The crappie bite has been pretty good, look to the channels by Phalen, Jarvis, Peltier and Rush Lake. Big Carnelian has also been good. Big Marine has been the best option for Sunfish so far.

MILLE LACS LAKE – Chris Kuduk's Guide Service, Chris Kuduk (320-630-1761) The crappies are starting to bite in the small lakes and channels. Try Anne, and Knife Lake. The ice should be off Mille Lacs this week. The crappies were still biting in Isle Bay last weekend on the remaining ice, look for them to still be going in the bay when the ice comes off.

MILLE LACS LAKE – Malmo Market, Lynwood Elliott, State Hwy 47 and 18 East, NE corner of Mille Lacs (320-684-2295) Call us for an update!

MILLE LACS LAKE – Johnson's Portside, Kelly or Steve, 1 mile north of Isle on Hwy 47 SE side of the lake (320-676-3811) Getting ready for the 2007 walleye season?? We are! With walleye opener just around the corner, May 12th, it's time to start putting together your summer gear.Stop in at Portside Bait and Liquor and check out our tackle and our sweatshirts just in... I think if the bite this summer is anything like last we are in for a great year!

LAKE MINNETONKA - Wayzata Bait & Tackle, Tim or Bob, half mile west off I-494 on Hwy 12 (952-473-2227) The crappie bite is at it’s peak right now. Your best bet is with a jig and a minnow in 6 to 8 feet of water. The sunnies have also been mixed in with the crappies. The crappie contest is this weekend. Good luck everyone!

LAKE MINNETONKA – Minnetonka Outdoors, Dallas or Gregg, south frontage road to Hwy 7 between Vine Hill Rd & Old Market Blvd in Shorewood (952-470-8800) There is a crappie bite happing in Maxwell Bay on a jig and a minnow, the fish are taking it slow. St. Louis Bay and Carson’s Bay have been okay, it will be better as the water temps warm up. Bring in your damaged reels for repair now and be ready for the summer fishing.

NISSWA - Dave’s Sportland Bait & Tackle, Jason, 2 miles south of Nisswa at the Intersection of Hwy 371 and Cty Rd 77, next to Schaefer’s Foods (218-963-2401) Visit our website for an update!

LAKE OSAKIS - Holiday Resort, Adam, 115 miles west of Twin Cities on I-94W, take 71N to Co Rd 10W to Falcon Dr in Osakis (320-859-4360) Visit our website for an update!

PARK RAPIDS – Delaney’s Sport Center, Kevin, East 1st St (218-732-4281) The lakes just opened up last weekend. Look for the panfish to start moving into the shallows. Some have had success shore fishing on Long Lake picking up some crappies.

PELICAN RAPIDS – Park Region Sport Shop, Lee Brenna, Intersection of Interstate 59 and 108 in downtown Pelican Rapids (800-962-8553) We are starting to see some shore fishing on some area lakes as our ice continues to go out. They are targeting the lake inlets for sunnies and crappies right now. The ice should mostly be off area lakes by this weekend. Look for the shallow bays to start producing.

RAINY LAKE – Rainy Lake Tourism (1-800-FALLS-MN) River fishing is about the best option right now, with northern pike and smallmouth bass as possibilities. The launches on Rainy River are open both above and below the dam at International Falls, but water levels may be low and can fluctuate. Try fishing in deeper areas with current for bass and along weedy edges for northern pike. Some of the best fishing may be just below the dam. Forest fire danger will likely be a concern with continued drought conditions.

RED WING – Ike's Bait & Tackle, Ken, 2109 Old W Main St, Red Wing (651- 388-2111) Ike’s hair jigs tipped with a fathead minnow up by the dam seems to be the ticket for the post-spawn walleyes. Also try Ike’s ring worms in the bright colors. The walleyes are starting to move down now that the spawn is winding down. A few panfish have been caught in Bay Point Park off the docks. We haven’t heard much on the back water panfish bite yet.

SAINT CLOUD – Stop Light Bait, 8th Avenue SE, St. Cloud (320-255-9689) Sunfish and crappies are both biting on Clearwater, Briggs, Sugar, Horseshoe and Cedar Island Lakes. Fish are in shallow water and fishermen have been fishing with waxworms, crappie minnows and night crawlers. We have panfish leeches for sale in our store now.

SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA – Axel's Tackle Box, Axel, 2 blocks north of Hwy 60 on Hwy 13, next to Casey’s, on Lake Sakatah in Waterville (507-362-4444) Morristown dam seems to be a good place this time of year. Crappies and sunnies have been caught with minnows or a waxie. The beach area on Tetonka is producing fish as well, stay near the sand bar and you will have a meal in no time.

STARBUCK - Minnewaska Bait, Larry Jensen, Hwy 29 near the Starbuck Marina (320-239-2239) A lot of crappies and sunfish are being caught right now on the lake. The sunfish are going in the Starbuck Marina on little leeches or waxies. On the Glenwood end the crappies are biting on minnows and Genz bugs. The crappies are also biting from shore on Pocket Lake off CR 4.

STILLWATER - Jimmy's Bait and Tackle, Stillwater (651-430-2554) The river crappie bite is going good right now on the St. Croix. Reports of a good panfish bite on Big Carnelian right now. Also, reports have come in of a good panfish bite on Big Marine too. The river opener this weekend looks to be very good and we are ready to go. Stop in for all your bait and tackle needs.

WACONIA - Mase’s In Towne Marine, Cindy, corner of Lake and Elm (952-442-2096) We are open and busy getting the docks put in. Please call for the latest reports.

WINNIBIGOSHISH – Walleye Visions, Tom Neustrom, 21622 Airport Rd, Grand Rapids (218-327-2312) I'm back from my Florida fishing extravaganza, and again it was a memorable trip. Now that I'm home, it was amazing to see so much ice on the lakes, but with the recent rains and warmer weather, the ice should be out on Big Winnie in the next week or so. Some of the other smaller lakes should be out in the next couple days. This is the time of the year to get your boat rigged and ready for the opener that is just a few weeks away. A little preparation now can make all the difference when the bell sounds. The early crappie bite should be very soon and I will give you an update as the information comes in.